66 Masters tickets seized outside Augusta National

66 tickets confiscated

On the first day of Masters practice rounds, a man stood near Wendy's on Washington Road waving two fingers in the air.

Less than 20 minutes later, he was flanked by undercover Richmond County Sheriff's deputies and handed a citation as one of hundreds of people confronted for selling tickets too close to Augusta National Golf Club last week.

By the time Phil Mickelson had won the tournament Sunday, undercover deputies -- dressed in their best golf attire -- had seized 66 tickets from people outside the National, according to Sheriff's Col. Gary Powell. For comparison, 37 were seized in 2009 and 43 taken in 2008.

"Of course they warned hundreds of others who were holding up fingers and stuff like that," Powell said.

Most of the cases made by deputies were from Monday to Wednesday, during the practice rounds, Powell said. Deputies often try to deter ticket-sellers in the first days of the event to prevent trouble once the tournament starts.

State law prohibits anyone from selling tickets within 2,700 feet of a venue. That means no closer to Augusta National than Sherwood Drive to the west, Calhoun Expressway to the east and Ingleside Drive to the south. State law also prohibits anyone except a licensed ticket broker from selling tickets for more than face value.

Powell said there wasn't a concerted effort to be stricter on sellers this year. But police didn't want to let people who were caught trying to sell tickets leave with them, because they would only be back later to sell again.

"We were trying to nip it early," he said.

Besides ticket-sellers, officers dealt with one case of disorderly conduct when Eric Sweet, a Canadian, took off his shirt and went for a swim in the pond on the 16th hole. Sweet's ticket was seized and handed over to the club's security personnel, Powell said.

Last year, a Utah man jumped into a sand bunker on the 17th green and began to make "snow angels" with his arms.

Authorities also arrested a man last year for slipping marijuana onto the course by packing it inside his camera bag.

But aside from the Canadian swimmer, there were no other strange occurrences this year, Powell said.

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let's see you have people selling tickets too close to the masters flanked by more that one undercover cop, but go anywhere downtown and see dealers selling drugs to men,women, and children and that's ok because it's master's week and you need to pursue those dreaded "ticket sellers" that are standing 1 foot too close to the augusta national

I just wish they could do something about the baboom, baboom, baboom in my neighborhood. But then I guess selling tickets is such a huge illegal activity that it must be placed at the front of law enforcements focus. Now if we just had enough officers to stop the a/c thefts??? But again, prioroty must be focused on the sacred grounds that our "stakeholders" walk on.

I knew the late Jim Busby, retired third base coach for the Atlanta Braves, and the wisest thing I have ever heard was said in a conversation with him one day. Very simply,"If you want to play, abide by the rules."

I live in the downtown area. When have you ever seen somebody selling drugs on Broad street in the CBD, Medical District, Paine College area, or in Olde Town etc? You rarely even see somebody doing that on East Boundary. You have to drive into Riverglenn or East Augusta Common on Eastbound just to see that.

And there were PLENTY of cops downtown all masters week. The Par 3 party and the mayors master reception both had crowds in the thousands. Along with the play through downtown event. That went on daily until the last friday of the masters.

I've seen it. Many times. Along with the prostitutes. Yes, Countyman, drugs ARE sold on your Sesame St. I know that doesn't fit in with your version of perfection, but I- along with many others on here- have seen it.

I laugh at the idea that "no drugs are sold on Broad St, Medical District, Paine College, or in Old Towne." Countyman, hope your job includes vision benefits, because, dude, you aren't seeing too well.

Countyman, ask yourself why a certain establishment that sells food across from MCG has sharps boxes in the bathrooms. It's because the employees complained about being exposed to all the used syringes that were being thrown on the floor.

Where did I say I've never? The poster who spoke above. He/She said you can go ANYWHERE downtown and see that. Which is completely FALSE. When have you EVER seen those type of people? Infront of the whites building, blue sky kitchen, beamies, green building, 1102, Broad street market, Sky City, etc. I live in the heart of downtown. I do have some knowledge on the subject.

Corgimom you don't even visit downtown. But yet somehow you know all about it.